The New Orleans Saints will probably be on the lookout for a new quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. All three incumbents — Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill — are pending free agents, and it’s no sure thing that each of them will return next season. Beyond the short-term need to fill out the roster, there’s long-term concerns about who could inherit the starting quarterback job from Brees once he rides off into the sunset. Bridgewater could be courted by other teams in free agency, and Hill plays his best football when he isn’t asked to drop back and pass.
One draft prospect who could be the new heir-apparent might be Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. Love has a reputation as a gambling gunslinger (he’s thrown 60 touchdown passes in his career against 29 interceptions, with just 20 scores against 17 of those turnovers in his last year) but his arm talent can’t be denied. He’s done a good job in practice with the South Team at Senior Bowl practice, impressing Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling:
LSU’s Joe Burrow and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa appear to be the clear-cut top two in this year’s quarterback class, but there’s a battle brewing for the next spot, and Mobile is the venue. Oregon’s Justin Herbert looked as advertised during Tuesday’s South team practice, but Utah State’s Jordan Love looked every bit at promising.
While both passers missed a handful of throws, they also displayed the arm strength, touch and placement NFL decision-makers will want to see. Don’t be surprised if both of these guys finish the week strong, and challenge for top-10 consideration come April.
If Love does end up getting top-tier consideration and Saints coach Sean Payton is a big believer in him, it’s not impossible to imagine another big trade up the draft board for Payton to get his guy. We’re not too far removed from the Saints trading up to No. 14 for Marcus Davenport, a move that cost them two first-round picks (No. 27 in 2018 and their 2019 selection) and a fifth-round pick (No. 147).
Before that, in the 2017 draft, two teams made big leaps up the board for quarterbacks. The Houston Texans swapped two first-round selections (No. 25 in 2017 and their 2018 pick) to get Deshaun Watson at No. 12. And the Kansas City Chiefs traded two first-rounders (No. 27 in 2017 and their pick in 2018) and a third-round pick (No. 91) to move up to No. 10 for Patrick Mahomes.
The Saints currently own picks at Nos. 24 and 88, as well as a few third-day selections and their entire 2021 allotment. Nobody in Houston or Kansas City is arguing about their team’s bold move; if Payton believes Love is the right fit, it’s very possible he follows their lead.
